St. Stephen’s Church stands on Hanover Street in Boston’s North End and is the only surviving church in the city designed by the celebrated architect Charles Bulfinch. Built in 1802–1804 as a Congregationalist meetinghouse called New North Church, the elegant brick building with its restored Bulfinch cupola reflects the Federal style that shaped early Boston. It became Unitarian in 1813 and was sold to the Roman Catholic archdiocese in 1862, when it took the name St. Stephen’s.
The church carries deep ties to the neighborhood’s Irish-American community: Rose Fitzgerald Kennedy, mother of President John F. Kennedy, was baptized here in 1890, and her funeral was held here in 1995. A 1960s restoration lowered the building to its original foundation and rebuilt the cupola. As an active church and Freedom Trail landmark, visiting hours vary, so check current schedules before planning a stop.
Good to know
- The only surviving Boston church designed by Charles Bulfinch, built 1802–1804
- Rose Fitzgerald Kennedy, mother of JFK, was baptized here in 1890
- A stop along the Freedom Trail in the heart of the North End
- An active church, so confirm current visiting hours before stopping in
Getting there
- Address: 401 Hanover Street, Boston, MA 02113
- Neighborhood: North End
- Nearest T: Haymarket (Orange and Green Lines), about a 6-minute walk; North Station is also nearby